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Integrating speakers into contemporary decor - can WAF ever be overcome?

This is a topic I'd like to see discussed more.  Not a speaker issue per se, but it's speakers that usually cause the problems. My partner is a hard core interior design/aesthetics type. We will shortly be combining households with all the benefits and challenges that this presents. We're both fans of a "Music In Every Room" (MIER) lifestyle, so that's a good start. But we quickly diverge. And to be clear, we're not talking about giant screens on the wall or home theater. This is audio only.

Anyway, her idea of MIER is built-in speakers or, at most, tiny Sonos units on a bookshelf or behind furniture. I had some of that in my house albeit BlueOS stuff. That's OK to a point. But my LR had KEF LS50's on stands. Obviously difference in sound is dramatic, and she admitted it. But she doesn't care. For her the improvement in sound quality is negated by aesthetic horror of visible speakers.

It's worth mentioning that the decor/design aesthetic in question is basically high end transitional with mix of contemporary stuff, Asian antiques, some colonial antiques, large format abstract oils, etc. It's >not< traditional or frou-frou, really a look where the right speakers could easily be interpreted as industrial design pieces that mesh well with the rest. The LS50s fit that description I think.

So, getting to the question here... Has anybody had any luck convincing spouse that speakers can be a part of the decor?  To think of them as some kind of sculptural elements, not "just ugly speakers?"  That they're industrial design elements that somehow add to space? Have links to pix of living spaces that integrated speakers into the look? Any help or ideas would be great. Thanks for reading, a kind of odd topic, I know. Cheers,

128x128kletter1mann
soix
8,822 posts
 

I have to apologize for my prior post.  I just couldn’t resist and I’m a sad person.  In all seriousness now, and realizing that not only do I not know your taste but very likely have nowhere near either of your senses and/or gifts for style, I’ve always considered these Italian-designed Diapason speakers to be among the most strikingly beautiful I’ve ever seen and almost as much wood sculpture as they are speakers.  And to me the beauty is magnified because they’re also form-follows-function designs so the beauty is not just skin deep.

https://www.diapason-italia.com/en/astera.html

https://www.diapason-italia.com/en/adamantesV.html

For a more industrial look, if that’s what you’re more into, the Gallo Strada 2 might fit the bill.

https://hifiheaven.net/shop/Gallo-Acoustics-Strada-2-Loudspeaker-Side

My highest recommendation would be for you to claim a dedicated audio room of your own and pick what you like for both sound and aesthetics.  Everything else will likely be a huge compromise in sound quality, and life is too short to be a slave to looks alone IMHO.  Best of luck.

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

When we built our house, we made sure we had a guest room that, when we didn't have guests, I could do whatever might float my boat.  When guests show up, my stereo is shunted into a corner and a bed is brought out. Luckily, this has only happened once or twice.

jwei
134 posts
 

It sounds like some compromise is necessary.

What about putting speakers in cabinets with doors you would open for listening?

Among a number of manufacturers, Salamander makes furniture and racks for audio applications.  With various decor styles, here is one relatively simple design:

https://www.salamanderdesigns.com/av-cabinets/synergy-model-402/

This cabinet happens to be 41" high with flexible shelf heights, so "bookshelf"  speakers might have tweeters at a decent 35-39" height.  Support rigidity would be good, although cabinet walls would be subject to "some" vibration.

You could even slide the speakers a few inches out of the cabinet when listening to manage diffraction effects.

soix
8,822 posts
 

What about putting speakers in cabinets with doors you would open for listening?

Just shoot me in the head and get it over with.

maxwave's avatar
maxwave
924 posts
 

It may be my own taste ; but you can’t go wrong , aestheticly speaking with     
the new    Tannoy Stirling III LZ Special Edition.

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